Crutch attachment



(No Model.)

WA.- J. ROBINSON. GRUTGH ATTACHMENT.

No. 578,583. Patented Mar. 9, 1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. ROBINSON, OF ETNA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CRUTCH ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,583, dated March 9, 1897.

Application filed J'uly 24, 1 8 9 6.

To all wiz/0m t may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. ROBINSON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Etna, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crutch Attachments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make. and use the same.

My invention relates to crutches, the object of the same being to provide an attachment therefor by means of which the slipping of the crutch is prevented upon icy or sleety pavements.

The invention consists of the construction, arrangement, and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this specication, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a crutch provided with my attachment. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the same.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts `in both the views.

The crutch 1 is of ordinary construction, be-

in g made up of the two longitudinal angularlydisposed bars 2 2, having a ferrule 3 upon their lower ends and a shoulder-piece 4t connecting their upper ends. The said crutch is also provided with a handle-bar 5, and the ferrule 3 has itting into it a rubber cap 6, having a longitudinal Opening 7 through the same. A bur 8 is rigidly secured in a socket between the adjacent edges and the two longitudinal bars 2 2 and has a threaded opening 9 therein. Fitting within the opening in said bur and adapted to project through the opening 7 in the cap 6 is a metallic rod 10, having screw-threads ll therein,vwhic'h mesh with the threads in the said bur, and also has a pointed lower end, as clearly shown. The

upper end of the rod l0 passes through a crossbar 12,' connecting the bars 2 2, and has an operating handle or wheel 13 therein.l

By the construction just described it will be seen that I have provided an extremely Serial No. 600,410. (No model.)

simple attachment for crutches of ordinary construction, which adds little, if any, to the weightof the said crutch and which can be operated conveniently for the purpose of throwing out the lower pointed end of the rod LO to provide a sharp bearing-surface for the lower end of the crutch and thereby prevent slipping upon icy or sleety pavements. To throw the said pointed end outwardly, it is merely necessary to turn theoperating-handle 13 to the right and a reverse movement of said Operating handle or wheel will withdraw the said rod.

While I have described my crutch ashaving a bur in the lower end thereof, it is obvious that I may dispense with the bur and instead locate the threads at any suitable point in said crutch. For example, a core may be secured Vto the inner surface of the ferrule 3, which is internally screw-threaded for engagement with the threaded portion of the rod 10.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination with an ordinary double crutch having angularly-disposed longitudinal bars, a ferrule upon the lower ends thereof and a cap having an opening therein fitting said ferrule; of an attachment therefor consisting of a bur secured in a socket formed between the inner edges of said longitudinal bars, and having threaded Opening therein; a cross-bar connecting said longitudinal bars; a rod projecting through said cross-bar and having a pointed lower end adapted to project through the opening in said cap, and

provided with screw-threads engaging the threaded portions of said bur, and an operating handle or wheel upon the upper end of said rod, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM J. ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

'JOHN L. GULLETT, JOHN E. POTTER. 

